This invention provides an image processing method and apparatus capable of easily reprinting the same print data in various output forms at a high speed without any large-capacity storage device, in which when a page image corresponding to print data input from an external device is to be generated, the print data is analyzed to generate the page image, print data of at least one job is held, a page image of at least one page that is generated by analyzing the print data is held, and when reprinting is designated, either of the spooled print data and page image is read out to perform reprinting.
Legal claims defining the scope of protection, as filed with the USPTO.
1. An image processing apparatus which generates a page image corresponding to print data input from an external device, comprising: an analysis unit adapted to analyze the print data to generate a page image; a print data spool unit adapted to hold the print data; an image spool unit adapted to hold a page image of each page obtained as an analysis result of said analysis unit; a determination unit adapted to, when reprinting is designated, determine whether to read out the print data held in the print data spool unit or the page image held in the image spool unit, using first print setting information set for data to be reprinted and second print setting information which is newly designated for reprinting; and a printing unit adapted to, when said determination unit has determined to read out the page image, print using the page image, and when said determination unit has determined to read out the print data, print using the print data and the second print setting information, wherein said determination unit determines to read out the page image for an odd-numbered page and reading out the print data for an even-numbered page when double-sided printing with a desired binding width is designated as the first print setting information and single-sided printing with the desired binding width is designated as the second print setting information.
2. The apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein a printing environment check unit determines whether to reuse the page image or reanalyze the print data, at least once for one print job in a page unit.
3. The apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein said analysis unit comprises a page information generation unit adapted to analyze the print data to generate a page image and to output the page information of the print data, and wherein said print data spool unit holds the print data and the page information together.
4. The apparatus according to claim 3 , wherein the page information includes a start position of each page in the print data.
5. The apparatus according to claim 4 , wherein the page information also includes printing environment information at start of each page.
6. The apparatus according to claim 4 , wherein said printing unit comprises a first determination unit adapted to determine a change of a print order of pages from a print designation, read out a page start position from the page information in an order complying with a result of said first determination unit, and print the page image in the order.
7. The apparatus according to claim 5 , wherein the printing environment includes various current graphic states necessary for drawing.
8. The apparatus according to claim 5 , wherein said printing unit comprises a first determination unit adapted to determine a change of a print order of pages from a print designation, set a print environment by reading out a page start position and the printing environment information from the page information in an order complying with a result of said first determination unit, and print the page image in the order.
9. The apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the page image includes a set of image data obtained by dividing one page into a plurality of bands, or image data of one page.
10. The apparatus according to claim 1 , further comprising a checking unit adapted to check whether the page image can be stored in said image spool unit, wherein, when the page image is determined not to be able to be stored, only the print data is stored in said print data spool unit.
11. The apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein said printing unit comprises a second determination unit adapted to, when partial printing from a desired page of the print data is designated, determine for a designated page whether the page image is reusable, and reuse the page image in accordance with a determination result by said second determination unit.
12. An image processing method of generating a page image corresponding to print data input from an external device, comprising: an analysis step of analyzing the print data to generate a page image; a print data spool step of holding the print data; an image spool step of holding a page image of each page obtained as an analysis result in said analysis step; a determination step of, when reprinting is designated, determining whether to read out the print data held in the print data spool unit or the page image held in the image spool unit, using first print setting information set for the print data to be reprinted and second print setting information which is newly designated for reprinting; and a printing step of, when said determination step has determined to read out the page image, printing using the print data and the second print setting information, wherein said determination step determines to read out the page image for an odd-numbered page and reading out the print data for an even-numbered page when double-sided printing with a desired binding width is designated as the first print setting information and single-sided printing with the desired binding width is designated as the second print setting information.
13. The method according to claim 12 , wherein in a printing environment check step, whether to reuse the page image or reanalyze the print data is determined at least once for one print job in a page unit.
14. The method according to claim 12 , wherein said analysis step comprises a page information generation step of analyzing the print data to generate a page image and outputting the page information of the print data, and in the print data spool step, the print data and the page information are held together.
15. The method according to claim 14 , wherein the page information includes a start position of each page in the print data.
16. The method according to claim 15 , wherein the page information also includes printing environment information at start of each page.
17. The method according to claim 15 , wherein said printing step comprises a first determination step of determining a change of a print order of pages from a print designation, a page start position is read out from the page information in an order complying with a determination result, and the page image is printed in the order.
18. The method according to claim 16 , wherein the printing environment includes various current graphic states necessary for drawing.
19. The method according to claim 16 , wherein said printing step comprises a first determination step of determining a change of a print order of pages from a print designation, a printing environment is set by reading out a page start position and the printing environment information from the page information in an order complying with a determination result, and the page image is printed in the order.
20. The method according to claim 12 , wherein the page image includes a set of image data obtained by dividing one page into a plurality of bands, or image data of one page.
21. The method according to claim 12 , wherein said image spool step comprises a step of checking whether the page image can be stored, and when the page image is determined not to be able to be stored, only the print data is stored in the print data spool step.
22. The method according to claim 12 , wherein said printing step comprises a second determination step of, when partial printing from a desired page of the print data is designated, determining for a designated page whether the page image is reusable, and the page image is reused in accordance with a determination result.
23. A computer-readable medium storing an image processing program of generating a page image corresponding to print data input from an external device, said program comprising: an analysis step of analyzing the print data to generate a page image; a print data spool step of holding the print data of at least one job; an image spool step of holding a page image of each page obtained as an analysis result in said analysis step; a determination step of, when reprinting is designated, determining whether to read out the print data held in the print data spool unit or the page image held in the image spool unit, using first print setting information set for data to be reprinted and second print setting information which is newly designated for reprinting; and a printing step of, when said determination step has determined to read out the page image, printing using the page image, and when said determination unit has determined to read out the print data, printing using the print data data and the second print setting information, wherein said determination step determines to read out the page image for an odd-numbered page and to read out the print data for an even-numbered page when double-sided printing with a desired binding width is designated as the first print setting information and single-sided printing with the desired binding width is designated as the second print setting information.
24. The program according to claim 23 , wherein in a printing environment check step, whether to reuse the page image or reanalyze the print data is determined at least once for one print job in a page unit.
25. The program according to claim 23 , wherein said analysis step comprises a page information generation step of analyzing the print data to generate a page image and outputting the page information of the print data, and in the print data spool step, the print data and the page information are held together.
26. The program according to claim 23 , further comprising a step of checking whether the page image can be stored in the image spool step, and when the page image is determined not to be able to be stored, only the print data is stored in the print data spool step.
27. The program according to claim 23 , wherein said printing step comprises a first determination step of determining a change of a print order of pages from a print designation, a page start position is read out from the page information in an order complying with a determination result, and the page image is printed in the order.
28. The program according to claim 23 , wherein said printing step comprises a first determination step of determining a change of a print order of pages from a print designation, a printing environment is set by reading out a page start position and the printing environment information from the page information in an order complying with a determination result, and the page image is printed in the order.
29. The program according to claim 23 , wherein said printing step comprises a second determination step of, when partial printing from a desired page of the print data is designated, determining for a designated page whether the page image is reusable, and the page image is reused in accordance with a determination result.
Cooperative Patent Classification codes for this invention. Click any code to explore related patents in that topic.
February 20, 2003
March 17, 2009
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